目尻(めじり)

めじり
noun
outer corner of the eye
body
1. outer corner of the eye
the outer corner of the eye, near the temple; the area where the upper and lower eyelids meet on the side away from the nose
目尻(めじり)にしわがある。
There are wrinkles at the corners of the eyes.
目尻(めじり)を下(さ)げて笑(わら)った。
She smiled with the corners of her eyes lowered.
目尻(めじり)にアイラインを引(ひ)くと目(め)が大(おお)きく見(み)える。
If you draw eyeliner at the outer corners, your eyes look bigger.
彼(かれ)は感動(かんどう)して目尻(めじり)に涙(なみだ)を浮(う)かべていた。
He was so moved that tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.

Refers specifically to the outer corner of the eye (temple side). An important body-part term in Japanese, as it appears frequently in descriptions of facial expressions, cosmetics, and aging.

The expression 目尻(めじり)を下(さ)げる (to lower the outer corners of the eyes) describes a warm, affectionate smile or a doting expression — it is one of the most common uses of this word.

Common collocations

  • 目尻(めじり)を下(さ)げる: to smile warmly, to have a doting look
  • 目尻(めじり)のしわ: crow's feet, wrinkles at the eye corners
  • 目尻(めじり)を上(あ)げる: to raise the outer eye corners (showing anger or sharpness)
  • 目尻(めじり)に涙(なみだ): tears at the corner of the eye

Similar words

  • 目頭(めがしら): inner corner of the eye — the opposite location, near the nose
  • まぶた: eyelid — the movable skin covering the eye
  • 目元(めもと): area around the eyes — a broader term for the eye area in general

Related Words

Antonym: 目頭(めがしら) (inner corner of eye)
Compare: 瞼(まぶた) (eyelid)
Compare: 目元(めもと) (area around the eyes)
general
Added 2026.4.4 6:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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